By Jenine Clancy, Special Writer
MONROE — The Board of Education passed a resolution Wednesday night to officially approve the resignation of Assistant Superintendent Jeff Gorman who will continue his work alongside Kenneth Hamilton in Mount Vernon, New York.
Mr. Gorman’s last day under contract in Monroe will be Aug. 31, and will start in Mount Vernon at the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year.
Mr. Gorman said he would continue his work as Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum in Mount Vernon, along with the title of Instruction and Technology.
Mr. Hamilton’s started in Mount Vernon on Aug 11.
"I am going to continue my work with Mr. Hamilton," Mr. Gorman said in a statement Thursday. "We have a shared vision and a passion to leave our impact on society by giving all children the opportunity for a thorough and efficient education,"
Mr. Gorman, who was under a year-to-year contract with Monroe, said he gave notice to the district on Aug. 7. Mr. Gorman has held the position of Assistant Superintendent since Oct. 2008.
"I just want to personally and professionally say thank you for everything you have done for the kids, for the teachers and for the district," Interim Superintendent Dennis Ventrello said.
Mr. Gorman said, in his statement, that the salary cap in the state was one of the factors that did play into his decision to leave, for he was thinking, in the future, he could be possibly obtain a superintendent position.
The salary caps, adopted by the Department of Education in 2011, range from $125,000 for districts with 250 or fewer students to $175,000 for districts with 6,501 to 10,000 students.
According to Mr. Gorman, he was making a salary of $158,570 for the 2013-2014 school year. In his new district he said will be making $175,000 a year, under a three-year contract.
Mr. Gorman started in Monroe in 1996 as Vice Principal of Applegarth Middle School and became principal in 2000. Mr. Gorman held that position for eight years until he was appointed assistant superintendent of schools.
Along with Mr. Hamilton, under Mr. Gorman’s leadership, Monroe High School was ranked one of the Best High Schools in the state, from the U.S. News and World Report.
The school ranked 39, in the top 100 performing schools in the state. On a national scale, the school ranked 1,500 out of the 31,000 schools reviewed.
Mr. Gorman, along with Dr. Hamilton, spearheaded an iBook initiative two years ago, which hopes to bring digital learning into all classrooms. Right now, the iBooks are being used primarily in science and mathematics classes.
"There’s always been a misperception that textbook drives curriculum, and we have always said the textbook is just a resource to the curriculum," Mr. Gorman said in an interview with the Cranbury Press this past Spring. "To ignore and not embrace it now we are really missing the boat."
At the meeting, some board members reacted to Mr.Gorman’s resignation.
"Jeff, you really did quite a job, you really did, you did the heavy lifting by putting the computers into this school and we will probably be thankful in the future, even now, some of us are" Board Member Marvin Braverman said. "I want to thank you for doing the very basic work to put this school district on the map."
"We couldn’t be recognized without the hard work that came out of the curriculum office, you have really made a difference of where we are in Monroe," School Board President Kathy Kolupanowich said. "We are noticed by other people now, both statewide and nationally. I would say I was surprised to hear you were leaving, and I was disappointed, but I wish you the best in your endeavors with you and your family, and you have to do what’s right for them. I wish you continued success and we will be reaping the benefits for what you have done here for many, many years to come."
The board is currently going through a process to find a successor.
Vice President Doug Poye said the issue of finding a new assistant superintendent had been discussed in the board’s Personnel Committee meeting this month, but the committee is still waiting on a recommendation from the Mr. Ventrello.
The Board also passed a resolution to choose the New Jersey School Boards Association in helping them find a new superintendent. Ms. Kolupanowich said more would be discussed at future meetings.
Mr. Gorman, said he is looking forward to the future, he couldn’t say nothing but good things about the district he is leaving behind.
"I originally met my wife and grew up at Pine Grove Day Camp on Half Acre road which is now Concordia. I was part of a great movement to transform Monroe from a small rural school district to a thriving Suburban School district," he said. "I have touched so many children, families, teachers and administrators and our collaborative successes have defined what I consider a strong educational legacy for this community. Besides the daily interactions with students and staff, I will miss the enormous potential that Monroe has offered its community. Students in Monroe can achieve at the highest levels and the district does a great job at meeting the educational needs of all students."

